Australia to conduct risk analyses on beef imports

Australia has begun investigating the risks of resuming beef imports from a number of countries previously affected by mad cow disease.

Biosecurity Australia, an independent Eminent Scientists Group, has commenced three separate import risk analyses (IRAs) examining the possible risks of importing beef and beef products from the US, Canada and Japan, all of which had applied to Australia for market access for their beef.

The analyses formed a process parallel with that being conducted by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) to assess potential food safety risks of beef imports from these three countries.

The group's scientists will be visiting the applicant countries alongside FSANZ to assess relevant issues as part of the IRA process. It will also review each IRA within a two-year time frame for precautionary purposes.

The IRAs will serve as a reassurance to the Australian community that the potential risks of beef imports from high-risk countries have been assessed.